Zürich

Zurich began as a Roman settlement on the Limmat, later growing into a medieval trading hub with guilds shaping much of the city’s character and architecture. Over the centuries, it became a centre of learning and religion, playing a major role in the Reformation under Ulrich Zwingli. As Switzerland stayed neutral through modern conflicts, Zurich developed into a global financial centre. Banking and finance still have a strong presence, but the city today feels more well-rounded than that suggests. Tech firms, universities and research institutions sit alongside historic churches, small cafés, and riverside walkways. The Limmat splits the city into two. On the east bank, Niederdorf has narrow lanes, student hangouts, and the twin towers of Grossmünster watching over it. The west side includes Lindenhof, once a Roman fort and now a quiet lookout above the Old Town. Busy Bahnhofstrasse runs nearby, following the line of the old city walls and filled with everything from luxury brands to Swiss department stores. Modern Zurich is clean, relaxed and easy to explore on foot, with the lake on one side and hills just beyond. It’s a mix of historic streets, design-focused neighbourhoods, lakefront promenades and cafés where office workers and students sit side by side, a city that balances old-world calm with a forward-looking edge.